Understood and agreed on all points. To expand There's a historical precedent for this, right? So, it makes sense that an informal chinese hegemony in the pacific could have some staying power. Because that worked out so well for them last time. Do they not study history in Russia? I guess I have a hard time understanding the Russian geopolitical short-game here. Long-game I sort of understand, they want to be feared and respected like they were at the height of the power of the Union, if not more so. I just don't see how their current actions lead to that. I don't see all of Europe, and especially the Middle East just rolling over quietly to Rooski-takeover, but then, we all seem to have just accepted the annexation of Crimea without too much fuss. China can now make a play to be the stabilizing force in Southeast Asia
Russia can make a play for the Middle East.